Betty Greene: Wings to Serve: Christian Heroes: Then & Now

Christian Heroes: Then & Now #12

by Janet Benge, Geoff Benge

As a young girl growing up on the shores of Lake Washington, Betty Greene had two a love for Christ and a love of flying. As a young World War II WASP pilot, Betty dreamed of combining her two passions by using wings to serve God.

Betty's dream became reality when she helped found the Mission Aviation Fellowship. Her faith-filled adventures and faithful service helped create what is today a global ministry that operates over eighty aircraft in nineteen countries (1920-1997).

Genres: Biography, Christian, Nonfiction, History, Faith, Audiobook, Religion

193 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1999

About the author

Janet and Geoff Benge are a husband and wife writing team with twenty years of writing experience. They are best known for the books in the two series Christian Heroes: Then & Now series and Heroes of History. Janet is a former elementary school teacher. Geoff holds a degree in history. Together they have a passion to make history come alive for a new generation. Originally from New Zealand, the Benges make their home in the Orlando, Florida, area.

Reviews

[Daniel Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trained as a WWII pilot, first woman to fly over the Andes Mountains, she was also one of the founders and the first pilot to fly for the newly formed Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF). She crossed paths with Nate Saint. She devoted her life to flying missionaries to where they needed to go.

[Ruthe Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a big fan of the YWAM biographies, especially the audiobooks. This particular biography tells the story of Betty Greene, who loved flying her entire life and was flying planes while still in her teens, including a solo flight. Her biography tells of many adventures and close calls in the skies. After flying with the WASPS in WW2, she became interested in helping missionaries find a much faster way to travel and became the first pilot of Missionary Aviation Fellowship. During those years, she still faced some heart-stopping, life-threatening experiences retold in this book.

[Sadie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful story! Betty used her love of flying to serve God and helped create an aviation mission. We need more Godly role models like this.

[Della Tingle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book I have read from the Christian Heroes: Then & Now collection. I had never heard of Betty Greene, but what a story! Betty was the first female to fly over the Andes mountains, and she had this experience when working with MAF: Mission Aviation Fellowship. Betty dreamer of being able to fly as well as help others in the mission field, and that is just what she did with MAF before they ever had a single plane. This organization is still going strong. Visit MAF.org to see how they have been bringing hope to isolated people for 75 years. This website is certainly worth a visit, as this book is certainly worth the read!

[Debra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Betty Greene helped to found Missionary Aviation Fellowship (MAF), which helps missionaries in some of the most remote areas by flying supplies in and flying people in and out. This is a great story if you are looking for a female heroine to inspire your girls. Personally, I would read Cameron Townsend and Nate Saint, and possibly Rachel Saint, before reading this book. Betty Greene and MAF is really a tie in to all these other missionaries, and MAF really got their start with the help of Cameron Townsend.

[Sydney Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

The books in this series can be hit or miss, but I appreciated this one. It was quite mild compared to some of them, so it’d be good for younger or more sensitive readers. 7+

[Melissa B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is an excellent read for young girls in search of strong females. Betty Greene broke barriers throughout her life--working as a WASP during WWII, then becoming the first pilot (and female, no less) to fly for MAF, which she helped create and organize, then flying all over the world for missionary needs. Unlike other female missionaries, she never married or had children. She was a true working woman who also used her love of flying and religion to do what she loved.

The only reason I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars is because it's a little drier than some of the other YWAM books I've read.

[ClaraBelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first Janet and Geoff Benge book I read and I loved it immensely and intensely but I cannot remember much about it as I read it years ago save these 3 tidbits:
*SPOILERS*
1. Betty Greene was a American missionary to Ecuador in the 1950s and was a MAF Pilot, with her close colleagues being the likes of Jim Elliot, Ed McCully, Nate Saint, Pete Fleming, and Roger Youderian. Sadly, a few years later, in January 1956, she would lead the airplane rescue team that spotted the burned plane and drowned corpses of all 5 men in the days after their disappearance while in Auca tribal territory, breaking down in regretful sobs when the mens’ bodies were found to have been mutilated during their martyrdom.
2. BG was a former WASP in WW2
3. BG remained a unmarried missionary in Ecuador until the circa 1970s ? when she died of untreated cancer.
Rating: 8 stars
Recommend: for teens who want to have role models beyond the latest overpaid pop singer or actress

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted to try out some of this series and literally closed my eyes to pick someone because I couldn’t decide.

When I landed on Betty Greene I laughed. I know the organization MAF fairly well and know some wonderful people that work with them and for them. So to read up on Betty Greene was extra fun.

I love how they told her story. It was well written and full of the adventure that truly was her life. Nothing felt like it was too good to be true. Even knowing some of the wonderful things she did and how God worked in her life I was truly in awe reading it.

This book, and this series, seem like they will be excellent to have for the future for my family. I will definitely be reading more of them and sharing them. So many people to learn about that helped spread the word of God.

[Tami Hungerford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Betty was quite the lady!! The book was a kind of long (sorry Betty) but boy she was a go getter and a bold woman!!!!



Multiple times bypassed what the men around her told her she couldn’t. Obviously a strong woman of faith too. Which is probably good she went the missionary route.

At the end of her life she gets Alzheimer’s (spoiler alert) but as she forgets everyone in her life she asked a caregiver if they knew the Lord. “I do!” Said the gal. Betty’s face lit up and she said, “Isn’t it wonderful?!?!” 😭😭😭I just loved that!!!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Betty Greene was a real servant to Christian missionaries and her life was exciting (as every life is when it's lived for Jesus).
The book was great, but I guess that I thought that the story would have a lot more action in the air than it did.

[AnnaScott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing book about how one woman changed so many lives with the help of God.

[Narita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Betty’s desire to be a pilot blossomed at the very young age of 8 years old, and that dream never diminished. Her mother pushed her into enrolling in nursing school, but after two years she dropped out. All she wanted to do was fly! In 1940 she was visiting a 70 year old neighbor, and poured out her frustrations about what to do with her life. The wise old woman asked her what she loved doing the most and Betty’s answers were flying and helping with the youth group at church. Her neighbor pointed out she could do both by helping by flying for Christian missions. Once she got home she prayed and told God that although she had never heard of anyone flying to spread the gospel, if it was what He wanted her to do, He would work it out. Just a few weeks after her prayer, she heard of a civilian pilot training. She enrolled and was accepted. From that point on God continued to move with opportunity after opportunity in training and experience. Being an eager student Betty excelled in everything she did. She flew for Women’s Airforce Service in World War 2. She is honored with the title of the first woman to fly over the Andes and also to be allowed to fly over Sudan (women pilots were not allowed at that time). With 3 other men she helped found and Christian Airmen's Missionary Fellowship. Now the Mission Aviation Fellowship. Her adventures were incredible; flying to isolated jungle areas, staying with missionaries, hiking through the jungle, and repairing planes in remote areas. She even coordinated and flew missions across many continents which was no easy feat with numerous stops for fueling plus time to rest, all in different countries! I found all she did mind boggling, but the planning and knowledge it took to accomplish this was incredible. She had so many close calls, emergency situations, illness and just downright scary circumstances. Betty loved every minute of it and never wavered. I won’t even travel to another state alone in a car! What I found most impressive was all of this was done with her intense devotion to God and desire to serve Him. One amazing lady!
Thank you to YWAM Publishing for a providing this book for me to review. The opinions stated are my own.

[Amy Lee Ellis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this biography for the Challies challenge. I found the writing style a little dry, but the factual information was interesting enough to keep me going. I'm at least somewhat familiar with many of the missionaries covered in the YWAM biographies, but I chose Ms. Greene because I had never heard of her.

Talk about using one's gifts and talents to honor Christ! I did enjoy hearing about Betty Greene's work in the early days of missionary pilots. It is obvious from the book that her work helped to advance God's kingdom, and that she also had some amazing adventures. I did wish as a reader that I could have gotten a little more detail because parts of this book felt a little bit like just a dry synopsis of where she went. While this book was a somewhat average read for me, I do think I will still use it later on in homeschooling little ones.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can i say, I love these books. it was fun to read about how Dawson and Lila Trotman helped Mission Aviation get started. The Navigators have been instrumental in helping lots of organizations.

Betty loved to fly and was quite good at it. She had this vision of using planes to serve missionaries in remote places. She wrote about it and 2 guys who had the same idea contacted her and they started when turned into MAF. I know that JAARS with Wycliffe was in the middle of that too. I was little confused as to which organization came first? Betty did some flying for what I think became JAARS. I need to mention this to Barb and Bud as they have been with Wycliffe and lived at the JAARS headquarters for many years.

She had a full life. I was very sad to read that she had Alzheimers at the end. But the very last words she said, "Do you know God?" Wow, in the midst of the end of Alzheimers.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of our "morning time" selections that the kids and I read together. I enjoyed reading about Betty Greene--someone I had NEVER heard about despite reading many missionary biographies over the years. She was a contemporary of Elisabeth Elliot and knew Nate Saint personally. I really enjoyed her story as a female pilot during a time when that wasn't often heard of.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the calmer biographies we have listened to, but it was still interesting. If you enjoy planes, it will be extra enjoyable.

Betty conquered a lot of prejudice against women to do what she did, and it was inspiring to hear her achievements!

Along the way, she encountered familiar people such as Nate Saint and Cameron Townsend.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book and new heroine for me! We did listen to this on an audio book but we learned so much about her experience and courage in a time where it wasn’t common for women to be pilots. I wish we could write her a letter to tell her how much we appreciated all she did in her life! Highly recommend learning about Betty Greene!

[Alejandra Enríquez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Los libros de estos autores me gustan mucho, son sencillos Y fáciles de leer. Siempre me quedó con ganas de conocer más.

La vida y ministerio de Betty Greene me fascinó, como Dios es tan maravilloso, mientras la sociedad ponía límites a las mujeres Dios daba completa Libertad ❤️

[Cristina]

Lo que me impactó - entre otras cosas - fue el hecho de que Betty era la primera mujer en sobrevolar los ANDES!! ...y hoy tengo el privilegio de estar en los Andes peruanos, sobre los cuales ella voló :)

[Mh Weyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christian missionary bios are some my favorites. This one is ok but not as exciting as many. Written with a moderate feminist perspective but still quite amazing what Betty Greene did in her generation. Yet, she is quite modern too— she only died the year I graduated from college.

[Caroline Shelatz · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite Christian Heroes book so far! I love how Betty Greene always went where God was calling her, even though most of those spaces were traditionally for men only and she faced opposition simply for being a woman.

[Deborah Heatwole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just finished this one with my children. We enjoyed it, but it was probably one of the least gripping books that we’ve read in this series. It would be especially pertinent for children who are interested in aviation or girls who have dreams of doing more traditionally “male” work.

[Lauren Dick · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit of a different feel than some of the other books into this series. Long passages of detailed flight plans. A cool and pioneering woman! Her 3 day trek at the end shows how needed and life changing airplanes can be for missions and secluded people groups.

[Cassandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would definitely recommend the story of Betty Greene over Amelia Earhart when learning about courageous female pilots. What a life!

Mission Aviation Fellowship founder.
Mid 20th century.
Worldwide travel.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book covers the life of Betty Greene, best known for her aviation missionary work around the world. She served in World War II and after being told she couldn't fly, she fought the odds and was a pilot during the war. She later co-founded Mission Aviation Fellowship and became the first woman ever to fly over the Andes Mountains in South America.

The audiobook was read by Rebecca Gallagher.

[Aberdeen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A female WWII and missionary pilot. So cool.

[Tim Schwamb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book about Missionary Aviation Fellowship and the lady who helped start it. It is amazing the extent to which this private group has been a lifeline and instrument of missionaries worldwide.

[Classical Foundations Literary Society · Rating 5 out of 5]

We enjoy this series of interesting, understandable biographies. Betty Greene is a WASP pilot and wants to use her knowledge as a pilot to help Christian missionaries.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Someone ought to make a movie about her life!